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photo credit: ?Florian

Whether you’re new to the landlord game or an old pro, you may be wondering if you’re charging your tenants enough rent. If this rental unit is new to you then you should request a past rental history report. Although this will not guarantee your rent should stay at the same level it’s a good starting point. (more…)

photo credit: timsamoff

Want to be a great landlord but don’t know where to start? The following five tips will get you up and running and keep you in your tenant’s good graces. They’ll also help you increase your income and get the most out of your property. (more…)

photo credit: mushroom and rooster

Rental units need renters or they’re not profitable. To get renters you have to advertise and draw people to your property so you can pick and choose from the applicants and always get just the right people. (more…)

photo credit: Photocapy

It’s your property and keep this in mind when you’re renting to tenants. If you don’t want the tenant to modify the property in any way whatsoever, make sure you include this in the written contract. It’s the only way to make sure you’re point has hit home and it provides you with a legal remedy if they do make alterations. (more…)

photo credit: epicharmus

Many people who own investment property are looking at ways to cut corners now that the value of homes is on the decline in many parts of the nation. Some of these property owners are looking at getting rid of their property managers and taking over their duties themselves. Before you make this type of move, you should know that having a property manager could actually add much-needed value to your real estate. (more…)

photo credit: allygirl520

Should you collect last month’s rent when your tenant moves in? Most landlords do not collect a last month’s rent, instead they collect as much as they possibly can for a security deposit and use that to defray any costs or rent that is left over after the tenants move out. (more…)

photo credit: diongillard

Screening your prospective tenants needs to be taken seriously and treated like a job. You need to follow the same screening procedure for each applicant and document your work. These steps are not only important for you to make sure you’re getting the right sort of tenant but they’re important protection against discrimination suits. (more…)

photo credit: Simon Davison

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) is an international organization whose members include the owners and managers of a variety of different types of professional buildings. They lobby for legislation related to the issues of concern to these members. The San Francisco chapter of this organization is working to promote awareness of its efforts that they have made towards implementing eco-friendly practices into building management. (more…)

photo credit: _sarchi
A lot of people have the misconception that it’s a landlord’s responsibility to repair a rental unit and it’s the tenants responsibility to maintain it. This might actually be a good rule of thumb to live by, but it’s not a legal tenet and doesn’t apply in all situations. (more…)

photo credit: Foraggio

A lease or rental agreement is something that should never be forgotten or skipped by anyone, whether you’re the landlord or the tenant. Both lease and rental agreements are designed to iron out all the details of the arrangement so problems don’t crop up in the future. If you want to avoid future conflicts, include the following information in your paperwork. (more…)